Spinning toy



Dec. 18, 1951 .1. SPENCER ETAL SPINNING TOY Filed Aug. 6,, 1948 JACOB L. SPENQER CARL L. SPENCER J. B. SPENCER INVENTORS.

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ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1951 SPINNING TOY Jacob L. Spencer, Los Angeles, and Carl L. Spencer and J. B. Spencer, South Gate, Calif.

Application August 6, 1948, Serial No. 42,946

Claims.

This invention relates generally to improved spinning toys particularly characterized by novel adaptability for use as either tops or string climbing devices of the character commonly referred to as yo-yos.

For correct operation, the weight of a spinning top must be critically balanced for upright support upon a single depending leg or spinning shaft. A yo-yo, on the other hand, must be balanced in an entirely different manner, namely, to either side of a central shaft to which an operating string is connected. A major object of the present invention is to provide a novel combination toy having rotatable handle means permitting holding of the device while spinning, and

in addition having such balance characteristics as to permit use, selectively, in either of the defined manners. This result may be effected by the employment of a body somewhat similar to that of the conventional yo-yo, but provided at one side with means for engaging a floor during use as a top and at the other side with rotatable handle means. The handle is preferably in the form of a sleeve rotatable upon a laterally projecting shaft, which may itself be a tubular extension of the central yo-yo shaft. We also provide means for retaining such a sleeve against displacement from its shaft.

The operating string of a yo-yo must be looped about a relatively small shaft at the center of a deep peripheral groove in the toy body. It is an object of this invention to provide for rapid and simple attachment and detachment of an operating string to such a shaft in a manner permitting simple conversion between the two operating conditions of the device. This result may be achieved by forming the toy body from a pair of detachably interconnectable sections. We prefer to employ the shaft itself for connecting the two body sections, by forming it integrally with one section and providing the other with an opening or cylindrical bore Within which the shaft is frictionally retainable.

A further object is the attainment of maximum simplicity of construction in a toy of the defined character. To achieve this purpose, we contemplate a novel structure adapted to be formed from a minimum number of parts consistent with effective operation.

The above and further features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the toy in position for use as a yo-yo;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the toy in position for spinning as a top;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the handle side of the device, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The toy comprises generally a pair of body sections [0 and H frictionally retained together, a rotatable sleeve l2 at the outside of section H, and a pm It for retaining sleeve 12 against displacement from the body. String or cord 14, having terminal finger loop 15, is employed for operating the device in either of the manners for which it is adapted.

Each of the body sections Ill and l I has a disclike radially extending portion l6 and a peripheral annular flange [1, which may present axially converging surfaces I8 of the illustrated configuration. Opposing planar surfaces l9 and on the body sections form the sides: of a deep peripheral groove which receives the operating string. Section II) is provided with a spinning shaft 2!, which projects transversely from a central location on the outer surface of the section and preferably comes to a point at 22. A

cylindrical opening or bore 23 extends withinthe spinning shaft from the center of surface 19 to an end shoulder 24.

Body section H is provided at its center with a transversely extending tubular portion 26, which projects outwardly from either side of the section. The inner end 21 of this tubular portion has an external diameter permitting its reception within bore 23 in section 10. The fit between these two parts is sufficiently tight to frictionally retain the body sections in the illustrated assembled relation, though permitting manual separation of the two sections for attachment of the string. End 27 of the tubular portion is of greater axial length than bore 23, and therefore engages shoulder 24 to retain faces [9 and 2c in predetermined spaced relationship. The tubular portion then serves as a yo-yo shaft in the assembled condition of the toy. The other end 28 of the tubular portion serves as a shaft upon which sleeve :2 is freely rotatable. Interiorly, the sleeve presents a bore Bdwhich engages the tubular portion ofthe body section and terminates outwardly in a relatively short reduced diameter bore 3|. Annular shoulder 33, formed between these two bores, engages the outer end of the tubular portion. 7 r

Pin l3 has an external diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of the tubular body portion, and may therefore be forced into that portion for frictional retention in the illustrated position. Head 36 on the pin engages shoulder 31 at the outer end of sleeve l2 to retain the sleeve against displacement from the body section, while'perr nitting its free rotation relative balanced to either side of groove 25 for equi librium in the yo-yo position. Specifically, the

design of the spinning shaft is such thatl-itsc weight plus that of the tubular shaftwithingexe V actly counterbalances the weight yoij shaft, sleeve, and pin at the other side of the top.

When used as a top, string I4 is wound ,within;

groove 25, and the operator, while holding sleeve r p y pul s, the.;. trins, o mpa a sp ni motion to the toy. A'fter'the'device is thus set in operation, it may bepla ced upon a flooror other horizontal surface "to spin upon shaft )2 I. To convert the toy'to a yo-yo, it ismerely necessaryto detach body section I Ujirom section 'I l, slip a terminal loop of jthestri'ng about tubular portion 26, and again connect the two 'b'ody sections together. The toy may then be; operated in the manner of a conventional jyo -yo.

We claim:

1.- A toy. adapted for use as either a top or a .yo-yo, comprising, a first circular body section having a central opening on onejside anda central axisprojection at the other side'ior en: gaging. a horizontal surface to permit spinning of the toy as.a.top., amsecond circularbody section havinga tubular portion extending axially therethrough and .projectingffrom both sides,, o'ne end ofsaid tubular portion being receivable in the opening, of ,said first body section to ,irictionally and-detachablysecure the two sections together while maintaining them in spaced relation outwardly of said tubular portion to, form an annular recess between the sections, and ahandle rotatablyc'arried,by. the other end of said tubular portion for holding the toy whilespinning, the. weight of the .toy includingsaid handle beingbalanced toeither. sideofsaid recess, with said recess extending. vertically.

2..- A toy adapted iforuseas either a, top, or a yo-yo, comprising a,first, circularbodysection having a spinning shaft ,projectingaxially .from one of its sides andhaving anvaxial bore extende ing withinsaid shaftand opening at thesother side of the body, a second circular body section having a tubular portion extending axially therethrough and projecting from its opposite sides, one end of said tubular portionbeing receivable in the bore of saidfirst 'bodysection to frictionally and detachably secure the two sections together, said first bodysection having a shoulder within said bore for engaging said end of the tubular portion to maintainthesections in predeterminedspaced relation outwardly of said tubular portion to -thereby form. an an: nular recess betweenthe sections, and a, rotatable sleeve on the other endof said tubular pore tion for holdingthe toy whilespinning the weight of the. toyincluding said sections and saidsleeye being balanced to, either ,side of theirecess with said recess extending-vertically,

3. Altoy adapted ;for ,use, .as-either -a top or 1 a yo-yo, comprising ajirst circular body; section having a central openin on ,one side and, an axial, projection at the. other side. forlengaging a horizontal 'surface'to permit spinning ofsthe toy as a top, a second bodylsectiomhaying a bu aepont on fextend n g xially ,itnerethroueb lar.

and projecting from both sides, one end of said tubular portion being receivable in the opening of saidfirst body section to frictionally and detachably secure the twosections together while maintaining them in spaced relation outwardly oI said tubular portion to form an annular recess between the sections, a handle rotatably carried by the other end of said tubular portion for holding thetoy while spinning, and a headed pin receivable and frictionally retainable in said other end of the tubular portion to retaimsaid handle'against displacement thererom-r 4. A toy adapted forvuse as either a top or a yo -yo, comprising a fir'st circular body section having ,a spinning shaft projecting 'axiallyifr'om one o'fjitssidesjand haying/an axial bore 'extending/within said shaft and'opening ati'th'e other side of the body, a second'circular body section having a tubular portion extending axially therethrough and projecting from its op posite sides, one end of said tubular portion being receivable in the bore of said first body section to frictionally and detachably secure the two sections together, said first body section having a shoulder within said bore for engaging said end ofthe, tubular portion to maintain the sections in predetermined spaced relation outwardly of said tubular portion to thereby form an annular recess. between the sections, and a, rotatable sleeveon the other end of said tubular portion for holding the toywhile spinning.

5. A toy adapted for use as either atop or a yo-yo, comprising a. first circular body section having a spinning shaft projecting axially from one side'and an axial bore extending within said shaft=and opening at the otherside of the body, a-second-circular body :section having .a tubular portion extending axally therethrough and projecting from its opposite sides, one end of said tubular portion being receivable. in the bore of said first body sectionstd retain said sectionstogether, said first section havin a, shoulder withinsaid borefor engaging said end of the tubular portion to maintain said sections inpredetermined-spaced relation outwardly of said tubular portion ,to thereby form an annular recess-between the sections, a rotatable sleeve on the other endof said tubular portion for holding the toy while spinning, a headed pin retainablein said other endof the tubular portion to retain said sleeve against displacement therefrom, the weights of said sections, sleeve, and pin being balancedtoeither side of said recess to permit useofthe toy as a yoyo.

' JACOB L. SPENCER;

CARL L. SPENCER, J. B.: SPENCER.

REFERENCES- orrni) The following referencesare of-record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 541,802 Barus June 25, 1895 1,291,752 Breyer Jan; 21, 1919 1,806,485 Mirafuentes May 19, 1931 2,337,334- Lohr 1 Dec, 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 747,320 France June 14,1933 

